Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

mean beating.?

?Well, I owe her one, but it?s not what you think.? Helen grabbed

his hand and pulled him toward the door.

Lucas waved to Zach on his way out. Zach waved back, but he

was still pouting.

?I think I?ve lowered your rank. Sorry,? Helen said as they got in

the little silver Mercedes.

?What are you talking about?? Lucas asked, backing out of the

parking lot.

?Well, Zach and all those guys saw us together,? she said, like her

meaning was obvious.

?And??

?Zach and Gretchen aren?t my biggest fans, which makes me sort

of like popularity antimatter at school,? Helen explained sheepishly.

Lucas?s face cracked into a huge smile and he grabbed her

hand, but he had to let it go to shift.

?I?m going to have to start driving an automatic,? he mumbled to

himself before continuing. ?You think you?re unpopular? The first

hour I was on this island I heard about the beautiful, perfect, heavenly

Helen Hamilton. You know that?s what the boys call you,

right? Heaven Hamilton?? Helen dodged his seeking hand, but he

eventually captured hers and held it tighter.

?Stop it, Lucas. This isn?t a joke to me. And what?s up with this??

she asked, holding up their linked hands.

?I don?t know,? he said with a curious tilt of his head. ?But it feels

right, doesn?t it? Look, why don?t you tell me what?s really

136/395

bothering you about being seen with me. Are you afraid of people

talking??

?Yes and no. You don?t understand because you haven?t been